Temi Fagbenle Opens Up On Nigerian Roots And Ties to Masai Ujiri’s Giants Of Africa Program

The 2026 season just got bigger with 24 new players also getting a chance to play in the WNBA following the addition of two new franchises. The Toronto Tempo chose a different path in the expansion draft, looking to make an immediate impact by selecting impactful veterans. One such championship-caliber vet on the roster is Temi Fagbenle.

The coach spoke about establishing the ‘Toronto’ culture and making the city proud with their performances in the league. The Africa-born star is all in for the same, but also looks to carry her roots as she pointed out in the recent presser.

Temi Fagbenle Is Proud Of Nigerian Roots

Having a coach like Sandy Beondello gave the Tempo side a slight edge in the league, having an understanding of the league and knowing the players well. In the expansion draft, the front office used this knowledge to add top players, and the 2016 draft class member is one of them.

Speaking to the media as a Tempo player, Fagbenle also put emphasis on her Nigerian roots as she said, “Africa is a big part of me. Nigeria is a big part of me. I’m from there, so I just take that everywhere I go.”

"Africa is a big part of me. Nigeria is a big part of me. I'm from there, so I just take that everywhere I go."

The Tempo's Temi Fagbenle has deep ties to Masai Ujiri and his Giants of Africa program 👀 pic.twitter.com/IuCL6cQoJe

— THE SHIFT (@theshift_sports) April 28, 2026

The topic came up with Masai Ujiri’s involvement as the majority stakeholder in the franchise. Ujiri Foundation’s mission is around education, enrichment, and empowerment of African youth through basketball. The player lauded his efforts and specifically highlighted the program that helped the African youth to flourish.

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On the floor, though, Fagbenle will have a huge task in hand and be a key figure in the roster alongside multiple veterans.

Temi Fagbenle Could Be Huge Impact For Expansion Team

The 33-year-old star is one of the experienced stars on the Toronto Tempo side and is poised to be a foundational, two-way impact player for the side. She can bring in veteran poise, efficient interior scoring, and elite defensive instincts to a new franchise. It’s important to note that the veteran forward had a breakout 2025 WNBA season with the Golden State Valkyries, another expansion team, where she started 38 of 39 games and averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.

Champion, champion and champion again. 🤩

Get to know more about Temi Fágbénlé ➡️ pic.twitter.com/aeXG38hTrm

— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) April 14, 2026

The 6-foot-4 star is a proven anchor in the paint and shot over 50% from the field, and transitions rapidly, making her a vital asset for a team building its identity from scratch. The player also proved at the highest levels, winning a WNBA title in 2017 with the Minnesota Lynx.

Coach Sandy Brondello could use Fagbenle’s winning experience and her elite efficiency to defend multiple positions and rebound effectively. She could be a part of a reliable veteran presence in both the starting lineup and in tight late-game scenarios.